Tensioning and securing device for load securing straps



June 17, 1969 puowls HOFMANN 3,449,798

TENSIONING AND SECURING DEVICE FOR LOAD SECURING STRAPS Filed May :51.1967 Sheet A of 4 Fig.7 Fig.2

Inventor- LHDWIG IIOI'FMANN June 17, 1969 LUDWIG HOFMANN TJISIONING ANDSECURING DEVICE FOR LOAD SECURING STRAPS Sheet 2 014 Filed May 51. 1957Inventor:

LUDWIG HOFMANN June 17, 1969 LUDWIG HOFMANN 3,449,798

TENSIONING AND SECURlNG DJVICL FOR LOAD SECURING STRAPS Filed May 51,we? Sheet 3 of 4 Filed May 51, 1957 June 17, 1969 LUDWIG HOFMANN'3,449,798

TENSIONING AND SECURING DEVICE FOR LOAD SECURING STRAPS Sheet 4 of 4 F1'9. 77 Fig. 72

Inventor:

United States Patent 07 3,449,798 TENSIONING AND SECURING DEVICE FORLOAD SECURING STRAPS Ludwig Hofmanu, Markgrafenstrasse, 758 Buhl, Baden,Germany Filed May 31, 1967, Ser. No. 642,400 Claims priority,application Germany, June 4, 1966,

H 59,601; Aug. 11, 1966, H 60,213

Int. Cl. B63d 63/16 US. Cl. 24-71 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURETwo side members are curved upwards at one end and are joined at thisend by a clamping pin and a clamping rib. At their other end, a safetyframe is mounted. A strap is connected to a strap yoke pivoted on theside members. The other end of the strap is passed around a containerand finally looped around the clamping rib. Manual rotation of the twoside members locks and tensions the straps. The safety frame is thenpushed onto the strap and thus holds the strap locked and in tension.

The invention concerns a tensioning and securing device for loadsecuring straps of all kinds.

To secure various kinds of goods shipping containers it is customary forthem to be strapped down on pallets or onto the frame of thetransporting means itself, e.g., in a ship, railway car or truck. Forthis purpose straps and plastics bands are known which are particularlysuitable for this object if they are fitted with a manually operatedquick-release closure which also tensions the strap.

Tension hooks for securing a tension band with or without an eyelet arealready known, and consist of a straight section acting as a leveradjoining which is a double U-shaped crank. To secure a load, thetensioning strap with eyelet is hooked into a bent portion of the hook,and the other end of the strap, after looping around the article to besecured, is hooked into the other bent portion. To tension the strap thelever is then swung about 180 and a crosspieoe is slipped beneath thetensioned strap.

This known tensioning hook however has the disadvantage that the entirestrap tension acts to lift the lever arm, so that it is retained in thetensioned state only by -means of the crosspiece which is slid beneaththe band section. Inexpert opening causes the lever arm to swing backsuddenly, risking injuries to the hands of the operation. Furthermorethe known tensioning hook also has a further disadvantage that it doesnot positively prevent the strap and hook from coming undone.

The present invention has as an object to provide a tensioning devicefor load securing bands of all kinds which has none of the disadvantagesstated above and which, in a closed state, is free of any tendency toundo itself. The problem posed is solved in accordance with theinvention by a tensioning device for load securing straps by the factthat a device for tensioning and closing a load securing strap, a strapyoke, is pivotally connected to one end of a frame carrying the handlever.

In a specific embodiment of a tensioning device in accordance with theinvention, the hand lever consists of two upwardly curving sides whichat one end are interconnected via a clamping pin and at the other endvia a safety frame with a tapered clamping rib protruding from one side,level with the clamping pin.

The strap yoke is U-shaped and preferably made of spring steel with twoeyelets formed in its limbs by means of which it is mounted on two studswhich are located below the clamping pin or the clamping rib one on eachside member, in such a manner that a loop of the free strap sectionformed after rotating the hand yoke over the strap ice yoke is adaptedto be slipped over the strap yoke and the clamping rib. When the handlever is returned to a closed postion, the strap tension holds it inthis postiion.

The subject matter of the invention is described in detail by way ofvarious embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, and

FIG. 2 is a side view of a tensioning device of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a section AB of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show in perspective the use of the tensioning device ofthe invention in three positions.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 a tensioning device of the invention consists of a handlever denoted by the numeral 1, to which a strap yoke 2 is pivotallyconnected. The hand lever 1 is made up of two side members 3 and 4 whichare interconnected by means of a safety frame 5 at one end. At the otherend the sides 3, 4 extend upwardly in a curve and are interconnected bymeans of a fixed clamping pin 6. This provides a rigid frame-shaped handlever.

The side 4 is recessed at the upper end, and the side 3 has a reinforcedsection 45 which has a conical clamping rib 7 projecting therefrom atthe level of the pin 6. The clamping rib 7 is tapered to permit a loopof a securing strap to be inserted, and to even the bending stresses.For reasons of strength the pin 6 is cleated over at both ends.

The strap yoke 2 consists of spring steel and is bent into a U-shape. Atthe upper end a load securing band 8 is attached by looping andstitching, and/or cementing the looped-over end. The strap yoke haseyelets 9, 10 on its limbs which are pivotally mounted on two studs 11,12. If required, the studs may be provided with bushes.

At the upper end of the sides 3, 4, two lugs 13, 14 act as stops for thestrap yoke 2. The object of the lugs is to prevent the hand lever frombeing turned over to the wrong side. They also prevent any reverse pivotmovement of the tensioned hand lever with the safety frame 5.

In the embodiment shown, the safety frame 5 extends at right angles tothe sides 3, 4 and is firmly connected thereto. The safety frame isasymmetrically arranged relative to the two sides 3, 4 and, as shown isFIG. 3, has a longitudinal slot 15 adapted to receive a loop-around partof the strap. The safety frame 5 also has a cut 16 extending diagonallyinto a longitudinal slot 15, forming two tongues 17 and 18. Thearrangement is such that the upper surface of the large tonguecorresponds substantially to the width of the tensioning band to ensuresat-isfactory release. The large tongue 17 projects downwardly to enablethe strap to be engaged. The small tongue 18 is displaced relative tothe upper portion of the large tongue '17 to prevent the securing strapfrom becoming accidentally unhooked through the inclined slot 16 due tovibrations. The operation of the tensioning device in accordance withthe invention is explained in detail by reference to FIGS. 4-6.

As shown by FIG. 4, the hand lever 1 is first hinged back via the strapyoke 2. Then the end of the securing strap 8, looped around an article,not shown, is formed into a loop 19 which is slipped onto the clampingrib 7. Subsequently simply by pulling at the end 8' of the securingstrap 8 a certain pre-tension is imparted. The part 5 of the side 3prevents the strap from slipping off sideways.

As shown in FIG. 5, the hand lever 1 is now rotated into its tensioningposition by the strap yoke 2, causing the securing strap 8 is to befurther tensioned. The lengths of the securing strap are so wound aroundand pressed on each other as to provide an absolutely firm hold on theband. When the tension device is being applied, the

pin,6 moves through the strap yoke and thus applies extra tension andthe side 4 prevents the securing strap from slipping off.

In the final position, as shown in FIG. 6, the securing strap 8 extendsfrom the pin 6 to the safety frame 5. The hand lever with its safetyframe 5 is supported on the tensioned strap under the effect of thetorque acting in a direction to hold the frame 5 onto the strip. Thereason for this is that the securing strap extends from the pin 6 to thesecuring frame above the pin centre, so that the hand lever remains inits closed position even if the strap loop is subject to considerablepre-stressing. The securing frame is supported on the tensioned strap toresist the pressure of the bud lever.

Subsequently the hand lever is moved slightly to the side and then backagain. At this time the projecting edge of the large tongue 17 of thesafety frame engages the strap automatically from the side and leads itinto the longitudinal slot via the inclined slot 16. If during transitvibration should cause the strap to be laterally displaced in thelongitudinal slot 15, it cannot be accidentally unhooked from the slotbecause the upper side of the small tongue 18 is lower than the upperside of the large tongue 17. The strap 8 is thus able to slip over theinclined slot 16.

To release the hand lever 1, it is first moved to the side till thestrap 8 is at the end of the safety slot 15. Then the opposite side ofthe strap is tilted in the direction of the inclined slot by suitablefinger pressure and simultaneously the hand lever is moved sidewise,whereupon the strap leaves the safety frame. Subsequently the hand leveris tilted back through the strap yoke 2, causing the whole strap to beslackened and automatically releasing the clamping. The strap may thenbe removed from the pin 6.

The tensioning device of the invention has the advantage relative toknown bracing tensioning means that the hand lever cannot accidentallyfly open even if the safety [frame is not engaged. This frame provides aperfectly safe closure.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of a tensioning device inaccordance with the invention. According to this embodiment two siderods 3, 4 on the surface are connected at one end by two strips 6 and 7'which, may be integrally formed from the two rods 3, 4 or welded orriveted thereon. As shown especially in FIGURE 8, the rods 3, 4 are sobent upwardly at an angle towards the pivot of the strap yoke 2 that thetwo strips 6, 7' lie higher than the pivot 12.

In the example shown the strap 8 is in two parts and at the upper endhas a stirrup-shaped hook 20 which is hooked in a pallet. To prevent thehook 20 from becoming detached when the strap is slackened, clampingmeans 21 may be provided which, may comprise a flat magnet, a spring, arubber cap or the like. The safety frame 5 in the example shown, extendsat right angles to the rods 3, 4 and is connected thereto, by spotwelding or is formed integrally therewith.

As shown in FIG. 10, the strap yoke 2 may be hinged in lugs 22 which arelocated on the rods 3, 4.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, after the hand lever 1 has been reversedthe strap end 8' is looped around the rib 7' and extends over the pin 6and through the slot 15 of the safety frame 5. The end of the strap 8"as shown at 23, may have a thickened portion to prevent it from slippingbetween the two pin 6, 7'. The other end of the securing strap 8 likethe securing strap 8, has 'a latching hook with a clamping device whichis hooked into position on the other side of the pallet. Tensioning ofthe strap sections takes place in a similar manner to that described inconnection with FIGURES 4 to 6.

FIGURES 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of a tensioning device ofthe invention. The hand lever comprises a form generally designated by24, which is obtainable by punching from sheet metal. The form 24 has acentral face 25 and two sides 26 and 27. To form the hand lever, the twosides 26 and 27 are bent downwardly on the vertical dotted lines,through At the lower end of the form 24 there is a metal frame 28integrally connected thereto, which is formed as the safety frame 5shown in FIG. 3 and which is bent over as the side sections 26 and 27,to receive the strap end 8'.

The central face 25 has two slot-shaped apertures 29 and 30 formedtherein and extending at right angles to the long dimension of the faceto form enveloping ribs for the securing strap 8.

. Two holes 31 and 32 are formed in the side sections 26 and 27 which,as shown in FIG. 12, serve to receive pins on the ends of the strap yoke2 for the securing thereof. The side sections also have tabs 33 and 34which are bent outwards and are provided to act as stops for the strapyoke 2.

On the first rib above the aperture 29 a further metal tab 35 isprovided which, as shown in FIG. 12, is bent over, to prevent thesecuring strap 8' from being damaged by a sharp edge. This bent-over tab35 strengthens the front rib.

As shown in FIG. 12, the securing strap 8' with its loop is insertedthrough both apertures 29 and 30 and is located in the longitudinal slot15 of the frame 28 acting as safety means. The tensioning device isclosed in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6. Theembodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has the additional advantage that itis easier to product and at lower cost, since in practice only punchingand bending operations are required for manufacture.

What I claim is:

1. A tensioning device for securing a strap, comprising a hand leverwith a means for tensioning and closing the strap, said means includinga strap yoke for connection to one end of the strap, said strap yokebeing pivotally connected to the hand lever; said hand lever comprisingtwo side members curved upwards at one end and interconnected at saidone end by a clamping pin and at the other end by a safety frame, and atapered clamping rib projecting from one of said members substantiallyat the level of said pin.

2. A tensioning device according to claim 1, said strap yoke beingU-shaped and made of spring steel and mounted on two pins by means ofeyelets provided on its shanks, the said two pins being located beneathsaid strap clamping pin and behind said clamping rib, whereby, when afree end of the strap is threaded with a loop around the clamping riband the hand lever is rotated over the strap yoke, the strap istensioned onto the clamping rib and the clamping pin, such that thetension in the strap presses the hand lever onto the strap.

3. A tensioning device according to claim 1, further comprising means onthe underside of both side members to act as a stop for the strap yoke.

4. A tensioning device according to claim 1 further comprising a safetyframe extending at right angles to the side members and parallel to theclamping pin and asymmetrically to the strap yoke, which safety framehas a longitudinal slot into which an asymmetric diagonal slot extends,a large tongue formed thereby corresponding substantially to the widthof the strap with its upper and lower edges projecting beyond thecorresponding edges of a smaller tongue.

5. A tensioning device for securing a strap, comprising a hand leverwith a means for tensioning and closing the strap, said means includinga strap yoke for connection to one end of the strap, said strap yokebeing pivotally connected to the hand lever, the hand lever comprising asheet metal member (24) having a central face (25) and U-shaped sidemembers (26, 27) with the strap yoke mounted rotatably on the sidemembers, the central face (25) of the member (24) provided at one endwith two slot-shaped apertures (29, 30) running perpendicularly abovethe pivot of the strap yoke (2) thus forming enveloping ribs for asecuring strap (8), the other end of the member (24) integrallyincorporating a bent- 533,547 2/ 1895 Moore 24273' over metal tab (28)forming a securing frame. 872,969 12/ 1907 Patterson et al 24-273 6. Atensioning device according to claim 5, in which 899,997 9/ 1908 Mark2471 the enveloping rib continuing from a first (29) of Said 2,390,23212/1945 Venditty 2471 slot-shaped apertures is extended by a roundedmetal tab 5 2,852,827 9/1958 Arnold 24273 (35, both side portions (26,27) being provided at the height of the strap yoke with tWo stop tabs(33, 34) FOREIGN PATENTS bent outwards 113,007 1/1945 Sweden.

Reference Cited 10 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. UNITED STATESPATENTS U S C1. XR 179,872 7/1876 Seymour. 24 273 373,017 11/1887 Frost24273

